Royals manager Ned Yost listed Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Alex Rios as viable candidates to bat second in the lineup this season, reports the Kansas City Star.

Gordon, Rios never batted second last season. Cain had only only 13 plate appearances at the No. 2 spot in 2014. Hosmer played 33 games and logged 144 plate appearance at the No. 2 spot in 2014, slashing .275/.326/.344 in those appearances.

The Royals have reached a two-year deal with first baseman Eric Hosmer, according to MLB.com.

Hosmer was set to head to an arbitration hearing with the club on Wednesday, but both sides decided to settle at the last minute. The 25-year-old Hosmer will make $13.9 million over two years. He'll receive $5.65 million in 2015, and $8.25 million in 2016, according to the Kansas City Star. The deal ensures Hosmer won't have to endure arbitration next season, though he'll be eligible again in 2017.

Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer went 3 for 4 with a walk and a two-run home run in his team's 4-1, 11-inning win over the Angels in Game 2 of the American League Division Series Friday.

The Royals became the first team to have its first three playoff games reach extra innings Friday after a well-pitched game on each side. However, Hosmer came through with the heroics, slugging a ball over the right-field fence in the top of the 11th to break a 1-1 tie and put the Royals up 2-0. Hosmer, who also went 3 for 4 in the wild-card win, has delivered a .545/.667/1.000 line in 11 at-bats over his first three postseason gams. The series moves to Kansas City Sunday.